Game-counter



(No Model.)

S. B. MILLER. GAME COUNTER.

No. 494.011. Patented Mar. 21, 1893.

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T uoams PETERS co, PNOTO-LITMQ. wasmuoron u c UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

SAMUEL B. MILLER, OF CAIRO, ILLINOIS.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,011, dated March 21, 1893.

Application filed November 22, 1892. Serial No, 452.834. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. MILLER, of Cairo, in the county of Alexander and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Counters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in game counters, and it consists in the novel feaures of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully described hereinafter, and more particularly referred to in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for game tables whereby the scores may be easily and accurately registered.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,-- Figure 1, is aplan View of my improved device. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal sectional view.

My improved device is adapted to be secured to the under side of a table with its upper side flush with the top of the table and the same is inclosed in a casing having vertical sides A. Extending across theinterior of the casing and j ournaled in its sides A, are the axial shafts B and G. Mounted on these shafts directly opposite each other are the drums D and D, and adapted to be wound thereon is the ribbon E which is secured at its ends to the peripheries of the respective drums and which is provided with numbers on its outer surface as shown. These numbers are in line and are preferably formed of two series, the lowest numbers in each series being adjacent for the purpose presently to be described. This ribbon is passed up over a rest E depending from the under side of the table top and beneath a glass disk which covers the opening in the table. The drum D is loosely mounted on shaft 0 but made to revolve therewith by means of a spring arm F, secured at its inner end to the shaft while its outer end extends between projections F on the side of drum D. By this construction a yielding connection between the drum and shaft is provided which keeps the ribbon E stretched preventing slack from occurring therein.

For the purpose of setting the counter in motion the shafts B and C are provided with the sprocket wheels G, and adapted to pass around them is the endless sprocket band H, which also passes up through slots H in the table top, as shown, extendinga short distance along the surface thereof within convenient reach of the player. This sprocket band may be formed of any suitable material that is sufficiently flexible. The recesses in the surface thereof in which the sprockets of the wheels G work, are inclosed by the projected coverings I. The adjacentsides of these coverings are slightly curved and form convenient finger holds for the moving band in the desired direction. Upon opposite sides of the space on the top of the table over which the band H works, are provided numbers which run in reverse directions on the respective sides as shown.

Scoring is accomplished by simply placing the fingers on the band H, opposite the number which it is desired to place to the players credit and drawing the band as far as possible toward the beginning of the said number series. The gear wheels and drums on the shafts B and C, are so arranged that a like number will be added to the score by moving forward the band 11, a sufficient distance to present the correct score number beneath the disk in the table top. It the player loses and the number is to be deducted from his points already gained a reverse operation is effected by resorting to the number series on the opposite side of the band H, and moving the same as before described, thus moving the said band a sufficient distance to present the correctlessened score number beneath the disk.

The numerals on the ribbon E are arranged in series extending in opposite directions so that a player can sit on either side of the table and by applying the correct series can have his score number facing him all the time.

For the purpose of stopping the movement of the gearing when the ribbon E has become unwound preventing the latter from being torn from the drums D,I provide the shaft B with a small gear wheel J, which meshes with a larger gear K secured to shaft L journaled between the casing sides A. This latter gear is provided with a projecting stop M on one side which, when the ribbon has become unwound engages aprojection Nextending from the bottom of the casing, and thus the movement of the counter is stopped and can only be set in motion by again winding up the ribbon E, or setting it in motion in the reverse direction. Upon the opposite side of the gear K, from the stop M, is provided a series of projections O which are adapted to engage the clapper P, of a bell Q, thus ringing the latter for each point that is scored. The gears J and K are so proportioned that the limit of the movement of the latter is the same as the extent of movement which it is possible for the ribbon E to have. Thus the latter is not prematurely stopped by the former.

By my construction a very cheap and simple counter is provided and one which is automatic in that it accomplishes its own calculating. All that the player has to do is to v move the sprocket band H, the desired distance and the correct number is added to the score.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a surface having an indicating point, a ribbon adapted to pass adface on opposite sides of the space traveledby said band, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination with a top surface provided with an opening, a ribbon having numerals adapted to pass beneath said opening, a depending casing, shafts journaled therein, drums mounted 011 the shafts on which the respective ends of the ribbon are wound, sprocket wheels secured to the said shafts and an endless band adapted to move around the same and up through slots in the said top surface, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of a top surface having an opening, a numbered ribbon adapted to pass thereunder,drums supported beneath the said surface to which the opposite ends of the ribbon are secured, sprocket wheels moving in unison with the said drums, an endless sprocket band adapted to move around the said wheels and up through slots in the said top surface, and numbers on said surface adjacent the space traversed by the band, subpose, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination of a top surface provided with an opening, a numbered ribbon adapted to pass thereunder, drums supported beneath the top surface to which the ends of the ribbon are secured, sprocket wheels adapted to move in unison with said drums, an endless sprocket band adapted to move around said wheels and up through slots in the top surface, projected coverings for the sprocket openings in said band having inwardly curved sides, and numbers on the top surface adjacent the space traversed by said band, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination of a numbered counting ribbon, a suitable casing, shafts therein, drums on said shafts to which the ends of the ribbon are secured, a gear wheel secured to one of the shafts, a second gear journaled in the casing which meshes with the first named gear, and a stop projecting from the casing which engages the said second gear at a predetermined point, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination with a numbered counting ribbon, a suitable casing, shafts therein, drums on said shafts to which the ends of the ribbon are secured, a gear wheel secured to one of the shafts, a second gear journaled in the casing which meshes with the first named gear, a projection on said second gear, a stop secured to the casing which engages the said projection, a series of pins projecting from the opposite side of the second gear, and a bell adapted to be rung by said pins, substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination of a top surface provided with an. opening, a numbered ribbon adapted to pass thereunder, drums supported beneath the top surface to which the ends of the ribbon are secured, sprocket wheels adapted to move in unison with the drums, a sprocket chain adapted to pass around said wheels and up through slots in the top surface, numbers on the top surface adjacent the space traversed by the band, a gear wheel secured to one of the drum shafts, a second gear meshing therewith, a stop on said second gear, a projection on the casing which engages said stop on the wheel, a series of pins on the opposite side of the second wheel, and a bell adapted to be rung by said pins, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination of a casing having a slotted top surface, shafts B and O journaled in the casing, drum D secured to shaft B, drum D loosely mounted on shaft 0, spring arm F projecting from the latter and engaging at its outer end the drum D, an indicating ribbon secured at its respective ends to said drums, and passing beneath said slotted top surface, and a means for actuating the same, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL B. MILLER. Vitnesses:

H. STITEs, WM. JENKINS. 

